Automatic shifts berth



(No Model.)

' W. T. MILLIGAN.

AUTOMATIC SHIPS BERTH. No. 308,428. Patented Nov. 25, 1884.

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` dmv/7 Umr- STATES ATENE* VILLIAM T. MILLIGAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC SHIPS EERTH.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,423, dated November 25, 1884.

Application ined Aprnii, resi. N'@ model.)

.To @ZZ whom, it may concern/:l

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. MILLIGAN, of Boston, in the county ofl Suffolk and State oi' Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Ships Berths, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part thereof.

The main purpose of my invention is to enable an automatic or self-leveling berth to be hung at each end in such a way that the hanging mechanism will not use space which otherwise would be used for the length of the berth itself. It is, ofcourse, desirable that the berth should be sufficiently long to accommodate the occupant, land at the same time should take up no more room than is actually necessary. This portion of my invention may be embodied ina variety of ways, depending upon the style of berth with which it is to be used. It consists in hanging the ends of the berth from an overhanging pivotal support, and by overhanging support I mean a support which projects from the state room bulk-head beyond the vertical plane of the berth-head, and does not interfere with the length of the berth, because it extends out beyond vsaid plane and over said berth, so that the berth can extend under it as far as the space will allow, and occupy substantially all the room between the bulk-heads. The supporting mechanism may then be as heavy and thickvas may be desired without a'ecting the length ofthe berth.

My invention also consists in the use of a circular supporting-track in combination with suitable berth ends, having a circular bearingsurface and supporting-disks adapted to give the berth a lateral motion as it rotates about its longitudinal axial line, much like that given to the berth described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 27 7 ,321. The berth so constructed has advantages more fully described below.-

It also consists in certain details of construction more fully described below.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of a berth embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line x x, Fig. 1. The other figures show details,more fully described below.

A A are heads by means of which the berth is supported. Each head consists of a grooved v ring of an outside bearing diameter about two inches greater than the width of the berth, the groove being adapted to set over the supporting mechanism and form both a bearing for the berth and a box to protect the bearing mechanism. Itis provided with a flange, a, extending toward its center a greater lor less distance, and serving to hold in place the disk taken from the length of the berth for the purpose. The berth 1n ay consequently occupy all the room between the bulk-heads, but will require no more room because of the self-leveling mechanism than if it were an ordinary stationary berth, whereas all berths heretofore built so far asis now'known, have taken from one inch to six inches off the sleeping length of the room for the leveling mechanism.

B B are sockets attached to the head for the ends of the side beams, B B.

C is a circular track. Its supporting-surface is best of a diameter-say an inch and a halfless thanthe diameter of the bearingsuriace of the head A. This track C is attached to the bulk-head of the stateroom, and its inner edge is adapted to lie within the groove of the head A. Upon this track rests the carriage D. This carriage is provided with anumber of disks axled to it, which are adapted to properly support the head A, so that its center will be about three-fourths of an inch higher than the center of the track. The middle disk, d, will be about an inch and a half in diameter, the others varying in size so that each will bear its proportion of the weight of the berth. The two smallest diskse-those at each end of the carriageshould best be but little above the horizontal diameter ofthe track when the berth is in its normal position. The purpose of this carriage is to insure the keeping the IOO supporting-disks at a regular distance apart, so that each will bear its proportion of the weight of the head, and no one will get out of place. The common connection insures the disks working together, and adds to the possible steadiness of the berth. By the use of the circular track and a circular bearingsurface, the two being hung, substantially as described, upon a series of disks of different diameters, substantially the same lateral motion is given to the berth as is described in the Letters Patent above named. The carriage D is also provided with a set of steadying-disks d, also aXled in it,which assist in steadyin g the motion of the berth. The groove in the head A is sufficiently wide to contain the track and carriage with its disks, so that all the parts may move with the least possible friction. Its inner edge and iange serve to strengthen the head, and prevent it from buckling wit-hout taking off from the length of the berth.

From each end of the carriage D projects a rod, di, which runs through a hole in an ear, c, projecting from the track C about twentyfive degrees below its horizontal diameter. The end of each rod which passes through an ear, c, is upset, and each rod is long enough to allow the carriage to move about twentyiive degrees on each side of its normal point of rest. Around each rod, and lying between the end of the carriage and the ear c, is a spiral spring, d3, attached both to the carriage and the ear. rIhe purpose of these springs and rods is to keep the carriage in its normal position at thc top of the track C, in case by any accident the head A should be lifted off the carriage, and also to .ease the motion of the carriage, and. consequently the rotary motion of the berth at each end of its swing. The berth proper is hung, by means of ropes b, from pulleys Z), attached to the beams B' B. It consists of a frame, F F. The side pieces, F, of this frame are angular in cross-section. The lower portions, f, of each side incline toward the middle of the berth, and serve with proper cross-straps to support the mattress. By this means the weight can be brought lower than if the sides were straight without interfering with the swing of the berth. rIhe ends F are also angular in cross-section, in order to swing within the recessed head A wit-hout touching it, and to utilize all the available room for the full length ofthe berth. The springs G act in all respects as in the patented berth above referred to 5 but I have found the mode of adjustment now to be described better than any heretofore known. The arbors g of these springs are set into pieces g', moving in slots in the piece H, attached to the beams B. The pieces g are moved in the slots by set-screws (/-Z The slots in the piece II should be at such an angle that by raising the piece g in the slot the power of the spring will be increased and its end of the berth will be raised at the same time. is lowered, the tension of its spring will be diminished and its end of the berth will be low ered.

.I is a board behind which lies a portion of thesystem of rods, by means of which the pawls K are acted upon to engage with the ratchetteeth about the lower circumference of the head to lock the berth.

L is a lever-handle pivoted behind this shield J, and adapted to lock both ends of the berth by a motion in one direction, and unlock it by a motion in the opposite direction. A portion of this handle projects below the lower edge of the shield .I in such a way that the handle, and consequently the berth, may be locked by a lock placed on the shield, so as to lock into the handle.

The operation of the berth above described will be understood without further explanation by any one understanding the berth invented by me and described in the Letters Patent above referred to; but itis obvious that my improvements herein described are not restricted in their use to that particular form of berth. The dimensions above given may be varied in a measure, but are those which give the best results with a berth of the usual sizeviz., six feet long by twenty-six (26) inches wide.

By the use of my present improvement in hanging the full length between the bulk-heads maybe utilized for the length of the berth, the recessed portion of the headAbeing countersunk into the bulk-head if thought best, whereas, heretofore, at least one inch was necessarily taken from the length of the berth in order to make room for the hanging mechan- ISID.

A berth of the kind above described and provided with a circular track has several advantages over a berth in which the track is elliptical. A much greater degree of steadiness is insured when the track and the bearing-surface of the head are both circular than when the track is elliptical because of the regular curve of the track. In the use of the elliptical track it has been found by experience that at certain times during the swing of the berth the berth will be supported by but two of the disks, thus allowing the other disks to become 1nisplaced,(unless they be aXled to a common conneetiom) while at other times it is supported by the whole seven, if they should remain in place. XV ith the circular track, however, the berth will always be supported by all thedisks, audits weight will be distributed, consequently, over the seven disks with comparative equality. Consequently, the wear will be more even and less rapid, and the necessity for repair less frequent. Moreover, a

berth supported upon an elliptical track by disks like that shown in my former patent above referred to can never be turned bottom up, when, as in the present berth, when it is desired to clean the bottom of the berth, or repair the state-room wall behind the berth, the berth can be rotated to any desired point IOO IIO

and held there by suitable supports, thus enabling the mechanic to make the necessary repairs without taking the berth down.

Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. An automatic ships berth provided at each end with a bearing-surface resting upon a corresponding bearingsurface projecting fromthe state-roombulk-head and overhangingsaid berth, said bearings forming two pivotal supports, said supports lying between the vertical planes of the ends of said berth, and the4 berth extending under said supports with its ends in close proximity to said bulkhead, all substantially as set forth..

2. An automatic ships berth having at each end a curved bearing-surface resting upon a series of disks axled to a common connection, capable of rotation and resting upon a curved track attached to the state-room bulk-head or the like support, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An automatic ships berth having at each end a circular bearing-surface resting upon a series of disks capable of rotation and resting upon a circular track, the diameter of said track being less than the diameter or" said bearing-surface, and the center of curvature of said bearing-surface being above the center of curvature of said track, all as and for the purposes Set forth. l

4. An automatic ships berth hung upon a longitudinal axis between upright supports, and provided at each end with steadying-disks d. bearing upon said supports and traveling with the said berth, the plane of each of said disks being parallel with the longitudinal axis of said berth, as andfor the purposes speciiied.

5. In a ships berth, the side frame, F, angular in cross section, the upper portion of said frame being vertical, and the lower portion inclining toward the middle of said berth, as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an automatic ships berth, the springadjusting mechanism above described, consisting of the slotted piece H, attached to the stationary part B, and the adjustable slide g', capable of motipn in the slot in the piece H, in combination with the spring G, one end of which is connected to the swinging part F of said berth, and the other to the piece g', as

and for the purposes specied.

7. In combination, the shield J, carrying a lock, and the operating-lever L, pivoted to the state-room wall and connected with the berthlocking mechanism, said shield partially covering said lever, and' said lock arranged upon said shield in close proximity to saidlever, and capable of engaging therewith in the manner `specified.

8. In an automatic ships berth, the combination of the recessed or concaved heads A and the berth-frame F F, hung upon its transversc axis, and having convex ends F', corresponding in shape with the concavity of the heads A, as and for the purposes set forth.

9. An automatic ships berth having at each end a circular bearing-surface resting upon a carriage, D, resting upon asupporting-t-rack, the said carriage being connected to said track and capable of a limited motion thereon, all as set forth.

l0. In an automatic ships berth, the combination of the stationary track C, attached to the state-room bulk-head, the movable carriage D, and bertlrhead A resting thereon, and the springs d3, arranged between said stationary and movable parts, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of April, A. D. 1884.

NVM. T. MILLIGAN.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE O. Gr.l CoALn, FRED B. ONEIL. 

